Federal 100: John Feikema

The work: Working closely with federal health IT leaders to ensure the success of the Direct Project, which seeks a simple, secure way for participants to exchange health information.

The impact: In a health care first, Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota successfully and securely sent immunization data to the Minnesota Department of Health, using Direct Project standards and Ability Network’s platform.

The nuts and bolts: Feikema has been laser-focused on the secure exchange of health care information to improve clinical outcomes and administrative efficiency. His efforts have helped provide the framework for a Nationwide Health Information Network, and he worked with more than half the states to improve their information exchange capabilities. Feikema is now a contractor working with the Health and Human Services Department's Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.